Timely medical intervention helped bring Sourav Ganguly out of danger on Saturday but his condition prompted doctors and fitness experts to stress the warning signs not to be ignored while working out or running on a treadmill.

Having been a sportsperson for decades, Sourav knows the pros and cons of working out better than most people, doctors said. But a bulk of Calcuttans eager to gain muscle or lose weight work out without the supervision of a qualified trainer, they pointed out.

In 2017, a techie collapsed and died while running on the treadmill at his New Town office’s gym.

Breathlessness, fatigue, heaviness in the chest, pain stretching from the chest to the arm are some of the red flags that should not be ignored while working out, said doctors.

“Even if there is a slight discomfort while working out, you should not push yourself and continue. You should stop and seek medical help,” said interventional cardiologist Rabin Chakraborty.People with a family history of cardiac ailments should be extra cautious before starting a work-out regimen, he said.

A detailed assessment of health parameters, lifestyle habits and family medical history is imperative for everyone before going ahead with a workout regimen, said fitness experts.

But only a handful of the gyms that have mushroomed in and around Calcutta have qualified trainers who prepare exercise regimens for clients after observing their health parameters.

People working out at their home gyms, something that had seen a surge during the lockdown, should also ideally be under a qualified trainer, said doctors.

“A thorough screening to assess blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and all other parameters should be done before joining a gym. Another detailed assessment of the client should be done at the gym by a qualified trainer before preparing a work-out regimen,” said Arthur Cardozo, CEO of Karma Fitness Studio and a fitness consultant.

The client’s age and whether he or she is a smoker or drinks alcohol must also be considered while preparing an exercise regimen, he added.

A section of social media memes pointed out “heart attacks suffered in a short succession” by choreographer Remo D’Souza (in December 2020) and Sourav.

Their contention — both D’Souza and Sourav are much fitter than an ordinary person and if they are vulnerable to a heart attack, what is the use of staying fit.

Surgical oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay said the incidents with D’Souza and Sourav should not be considered anecdotal.

“They form a miniscule percentage and should be considered isolated cases against the run of play. A person should exercise, or just walk briskly, for around 30 minutes every day at least five days a week,” he said.

Gagan Gagan Sachdev, the owner of Bodyline chain of stores and multiple gyms in the city, said over the past couple of years, many gyms in Calcutta have opted for qualified trainers. It is a happy change, he said, but there are many who still do not care for caution.

“A little further from the heart of Calcutta and most gyms do not have qualified trainers. They have bodybuilders who are mostly self-taught,” he said.